Critic Reviews

R-Type makes up for Thunder Blade, Blade Eagle 3-D, and all the other half-assed shoot-em-ups I’ve been forced to play on the Master System. Not only is it the best shmup I’ve yet to play on the console, it’s one of the finest to emerge from the genre’s golden period.

The lack of good shoot ‘em ups on the Master System was redressed when this was released; it’s one of the best blasters around on any system. Like Julian, I find the slowness of the game a little irritating, but that doesn’t really detract from the high quality of challenge here. The range and variety of the power ups gives this extra oomph, and I’m happy to recommend this to any Sega owner. Watch out for the end-of-level guardians though!

Overall, R-Type is a fantastic game. The graphics push Sega’s 8-bit wonder system to it’s limit, and often to it’s knees. The soundtrack is excellent, rivaling many 16-bit games. The game play and level design are truly head and shoulders above other games of the era. Hardcore shmup fans and newbies a like will appreciate this game. This is a no brainer.

R-Type is the kind of shooter that is fun to play no matter what system it's on and this Master System version is no exception. This is a fantastic game filled will imaginative bosses, diverse levels, and a whole bunch of enemies to shoot up. While some of the unique game play devices may seem tired, it's hard to argue with the game that created many of the cliches. If you're looking for a great shooter for your Sega Master System you can't go wrong with R-Type.

The two bad things to note about this version are that ship movement is sluggish and when there are a lot of sprites on-screen it flickers horribly. Apart from that it is just as addictive and thrilling as ever. One of the best shoot-em-ups on the Sega.

Overall, R-Type is a serviceable port on the Master System. The unique weapons, colossal alien bosses, and Force sidekick are what made R-Type the series the classic it is today. However, the flickering action throughout the game makes this a hard sell to anyone unwilling to grin and bear it, even for fans of the series. The bottom line is, when you consider the fact that it’s much easier to get an arcade-perfect port of this game nowadays, it makes this version even less worthwhile. Unless you’re a serious R-Type fan or an avid collector of Master System games, there just isn’t much to like with this one. Your money will be better spent elsewhere.